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Robert Riggs

Robert Riggs is a Peabody Award-winning investigative reporter and content entrepreneur. He has received three coveted Alfred I. duPont Columbia University Journalism Awards for Investigative Reporting. The Peabody and duPont are respectively considered the broadcast TV equivalent of the Oscar and the Pulitzer.

Texas A&M University named Robert an Outstanding Alumnus from the College of Architecture in recognition of his journalistic accomplishments. It is a distinction received by fewer than 1% of the College’s graduates. 

Riggs is the co-host and creator of the True Crime Reporter® Podcast, and the Executive Producer of Freed To Kill, a five-part streaming television documentary about serial killer Kenneth McDuff.

The TV show on Fox Nation Streaming is based on a 17-part series that Riggs launched on his True Crime Reporter® podcast in late 2020. The former death row inmate was released on parole under a cloud of corruption. McDuff started a killing spree the day after he walked out of prison, a free man.

Freed To Kill was honored with a 2022 Silver Telly Award two months after its release for best TV documentary. In 2021 the podcast was honored with a 25th Annual Webby Award for Best True Crime Podcast. Claire Graves, Executive Director of The Webby Awards, stated, “Honorees like Robert Riggs and the True Crime Reporter®’s podcast are setting the standard for innovation and creativity on the Internet. It is an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the nearly 13,500 entries we received this year from 50 states and 70 countries.”

Freed To Kill also features former decorated U.S. prosecutor Bill Johnston who launched the manhunt for McDuff and prosecuted the Chairman of the Texas Parole Board who released McDuff. Johnston joined Riggs as an occasional cohost on the True Crime Reporter® podcast in 2022 to tell “real-life” crime stories based on their respective careers. 

Riggs and Johnston are developing more television shows from their podcast episodes titled Case Files of the Texas Ranger Case – Untold Stories of Murders, Cold Cases, and Kidnappings.  The Texas Department of Public Safety leadership and the Texas Rangers have pledged unprecedented support for their work.  

Russell Molina, The Chairman of the 2023 Texas Ranger Bicentennial, invited both Riggs and Johnston to serve on its host committee along with President George W. Bush and Ross Perot Jr., stating, “When it comes to the Texas Rangers, Riggs is the quintessential journalist to tell their story and Johnston has worked elbow to elbow with Rangers to solve crimes.”

Robert Riggs reporting from Iraq during the Invasion in 2003. Pictured here with cameraman Billy Sexton with a Patriot Missile Battery from 552ADA
Robert Riggs reporting from Iraq during the Invasion in 2003. Pictured here with cameraman & Marine veteran Billy Sexton with a Patriot Missile Battery from 552ADA while under fire.

Riggs’ stories impacted millions of people during thousands of hours of reporting on television and online media.  During some assignments, his reporting occurred under fire while he was embedded with the U.S. Army during the invasion of Iraq.

Among the three Alfred I. duPont Columbia Journalism Awards for Investigative Reporting, judges described his Gulf War report about the censorship of religious services for U.S. soldiers “as the story every other news organization missed.”

Riggs’ journalistic ethos is to illuminate important public issues, right wrongs, speak truth to power, expose corruption, and in some cases, save people from harm by violent criminals. Serial killers were caught, and terrorist networks were exposed. Corrupt public officials did time in federal prison behind Riggs’ reporting.

Riggs is a member of the FBI’s North Texas Chapter of InfraGard, which was formed in response to the 9/11 terror attacks. He is a longtime member of the Investigative Reporters & Editors (IRE). It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving investigative reporting around the world.

Journalism Experience

During his broadcast news career, Riggs covered the White House, Capitol Hill, The Pentagon, New York State Legislature, and the Texas Legislature. 

He reported from the “eye of the storm” at the scene of breaking news stories of historical proportions, including the mass murder at a Luby’s Cafeteria in Texas, the 51-day Branch Davidian siege in Waco, the Oklahoma City bombing, the siege by Republic of Texas separatists, and three wars.

His reports appeared on WFAA-TV Channel 8 News, KTVT-TV CBS-11, CBS Evening News, CBS 60 Minutes, ABC Nightline, CNN, and ESPN.

Robert Riggs Reports from the scene of the Oklahoma City Bombing at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995
Robert Riggs Reports from the scene of the Oklahoma City Bombing at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995

Journalism Awards

Reporter Robert Riggs and Oprah Winfrey Celebrate Together After Receiving George Peabody Awards at the 1995 Ceremony at Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City
Reporter Robert Riggs and Oprah Winfrey Celebrate Together After Receiving George Peabody Awards at the 1995 Ceremony at Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City

Riggs’ peers in journalism recognized him as one of the nation’s premier investigative reporters. He received the coveted George Foster Peabody Award for Investigative Reporting and three Alfred I. duPont Columbia University Journalism Awards for Investigative Reporting.

Alfred I. duPont Columbia University Journalism Award presented to Robert Riggs in 1997 for Investigative Reporting.


Dallas Crime Commission Awards First Ever “Excellence in Crime Reporting Award” to Robert Riggs 

United States Attorney Paul Coggins and FBI Agent Tase Bailey (Retd.) present Robert Riggs with the Dallas Crime Commission's Excellence in Reporting Award. Reporter Robert Riggs was recognized for his investigative series on check fraud, identify theft, and black tar heroin trafficking that killed more than two dozen teenagers in Plano, Texas.
United States Attorney Paul Coggins and FBI Agent Tase Bailey (Retd.) present Robert Riggs with the Dallas Crime Commission’s Excellence in Reporting Award
Certificate of Appreciation for Reporter Robert Riggs from Dallas Police Department Chief Ben Click on August 5, 1996 For Uncovering A Bribery Scandal in the Texas Parole Board

The Dallas Crime Commission awarded its first-ever “Excellence in Crime Reporting Award” to Riggs in 1999. His reports uncovered how black tar heroin traffickers from Mexico preyed on teenagers in Plano, Texas. Dozens of teens suffered deadly overdoses, unaware that the “Chiva” they were taking was heroin.

American Bar Association Awards Silver Gavel Award To Robert Riggs

ABA Silver Gavel Awarded To Robert Riggs For His Investigative Series "Free To Kill" - Texas Parole Board Releases Serial Killer To Kill Again
ABA Silver Gavel Awarded To Robert Riggs For His Investigative Series “Free To Kill” – Texas Parole Board Releases Serial Killer To Kill Again

The American Bar Association awarded Riggs its Silver Gavel award in 1994 for his investigative series Free To Kill. He uncovered systemic corruption inside the Texas parole and prison systems. The investigation spanned more than three years and exposed allegations that Kenneth McDuff, a notorious serial killer, had paid bribes to receive early parole. Dubbed a “killing machine”, McDuff left a trail of bodies after his release from prison. He became the first person in Texas history to receive three death penalty convictions for murder.

Riggs discovered that McDuff’s release was just the tip of the iceberg. Dozens of violent criminals were released under a corrupt system. They spread a wave of terror across Texas in the 1990’s.

US Marshal Mike McNamara (L) Reporter Robert Riggs (C) US Marshal Parnell McNamara (R) Huntsville Walls Unit of the Texas Prison System at the Execution of Serial Killer Kenneth Allen McDuff on November 17, 1998
US Marshal Mike McNamara (L) Reporter Robert Riggs (C) US Marshal Parnell McNamara (R) Huntsville Walls Unit of the Texas Prison System at the Execution of Serial Killer Kenneth Allen McDuff on November 17, 1998
Senator Ted Lyon Chairman of the Texas Criminal Justice Committee Thanks Reporter Robert Riggs for his Investigation of the Texas Parole System
Senator Ted Lyon Chairman of the Texas Criminal Justice Committee Thanks Reporter Robert Riggs for his Investigation of the Texas Parole System

Free To Kill — An Investigation Into The Parole of Serial Killer Kenneth McDuff  by Robert Riggs

Riggs’ investigative reports about the McDuff parole scandal prompted the federal prosecution of top state officials and the first overhaul of the Texas penal code in twenty years.  The legislature enacted a mandatory life sentence for violent offenders named the “McDuff Law”. 

The definitive book on serial killer Kenneth McDuff published in the wake of Robert Riggs' corruption investigation on how McDuff received early parole from the Texas Prison System.
The definitive book on serial killer Kenneth McDuff published in the wake of Robert Riggs’ corruption investigation on how McDuff received early parole from the Texas Prison System.
Gary Lavergne the author of Bad Boy from Rosebud praises Robert Riggs for his groundbreaking investigation into how serial killer Kenneth McDuff received parole from the Texas prison system along with dozens of other violent criminals.
Gary Lavergne the author of Bad Boy from Rosebud praises Robert Riggs for his groundbreaking investigation into how serial killer Kenneth McDuff received parole from the Texas prison system along with dozens of other violent criminals.

Investigator for Congressman Wright Patman

Robert Riggs worked as an Investigator for Congressman Wright Patman when attempt to get to the bottom of what became known as the Watergate Scandal and later prompted President Richard M. Nixon to resign or face impeachment. October 13, 1972.
Congressman Wright Patman was featured in this Washington Post story on the first Congressional attempt to get to the bottom of what became known as the Watergate Scandal. The hearing was the beginning of the end for President Richard M. Nixon, who resigned rather than face impeachment. Published October 13, 1972.

Prior to his journalism career, Riggs served as an investigator for the late Congressman Wright Patman of Texas.  Representative Patman, as Chairman of the House Banking Committee, attempted to launch the first congressional investigation into the Watergate Scandal.

Patman’s Administrative Assistant, Baron I. Shacklette, a legendary investigator on Capitol Hill, helped Riggs hone investigative skills.  

Baron Shacklette a Legendary House Investigator For Congressman Wright Patman & Mentor To Robert Riggs Pictured in 1950.
Baron Shacklette, a Legendary House Investigator For Congressman Wright Patman, Pictured in 1950.

Riggs served as the Chief Investigator for the Joint Committee on Defense Production. The Committee’s investigations picked up trails of corruption where the Watergate investigation left off.  While working for the Committee, Riggs reported to its Joint Chairmen, Congressman Patman, and Senator William Proxmire.

The Committee’s investigation of a defense contractor’s bribery scheme contributed to the passage of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Riggs held a Top Secret security clearance from the Department of Defense and received training from both the GAO and U.S. Army.

Robert Riggs Receives Texas A&M University Outstanding Alumnus Award From The College of ArchitectureApril 6, 2001
Dean Tom Regan Presents Robert Riggs with the Outstanding Alumnus Award from Texas A&M University’s College of Architecture April 6, 2001

Texas A&M University Outstanding Alumnus Award Robert Riggs

Texas A&M University honored Riggs as an Outstanding Alumnus from the College of Architecture in 2001.  The College recognized his achievements in journalism.

Riggs was the first non-practicing architecture graduate to receive the award in its 100-year history.

Watch my YouTube Channel to view more than 200 of my news reports.

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